Machine for applying banding sleeves to containers



Dec. 25, 1951 H. G. ALLEN ET AL 2,579,458

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDING SLEEVES 'To CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 21, 1944s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNE Dec; 1951 H. G. ALLEN ET AL 5 1 3 MACHINE FORAPPLYING BNDiNG SLEEVES Td CONTAINERS Filed Sept. l, i944 Shets-Sheei:4f

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INVENTORS Zfoward G. 02761: wail-(am 0. Sims Edward Eer? ATTORNEY Dec.25, 1951 H. e. ALLEN ET AL 2,579,458

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDING SLEEVES TO CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 21, 19448 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS flaw-0146. azzen Zl/z'ZZzZZM 051 7728AT'I'ORNEIY Dec. 25, 1951 V H. G. ALLEN ETAL 2,579,458

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDING SLEEVES T0 CONTAINERS Fi led Sept. 21, 19448 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Jibwaraf G. alien I wilfz'am 0. Sz'wzs EdwardQEeri ATTORNEY Dec, 25, 1951 Y "1-1.0. ALLEN ETAL 2,579,458

MACHINE FOR APPLYIIIIG BANDING SLEEVES TO' cormmsas Filed Sept. 21, 1944I s Sheets-Sheet e 2 Edward a. .E'erf .ATTORN E Y Dec 25, .1951 v H. a.ALLEN ET AL 2,579,

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDING SLEEVES TO CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7Filed Se t. '21-, 1944 v mm a6 mmm 11 wk? 2. N Q m W M W W Patented Dec.25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDINGSLEEVES TO CONTAINERS Application September 21, 1944, Serial No. 555,188

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a machine for automatically applyingbanding sleeves to containers. One form of banding sleeve for which themachine of the present invention is particularly adapted is made ofcellulosic material and is applied over the neck of a bottle in a wetand expanded condition from which it dries and shrinks into tightengagement with the bottle. The machine is also well adapted to operatewith other forms of banding sleeves made from cellulose derivatives orfrom plastic materials in general which may be shrunk by drying orheating, for example, or which may be stretched and after application tothe container may be rendered incapable of further stretching withoutpermanent l5 deformation.

Such banding sleeves are frequently supplied to a bottling plant in theform of rings ofsuitable width and diameter for the particular bottle towhich they are to be applied. They are ordlnarily furnished in flattenedform in which the inner surfaces of the opposing wall portions of eachsleeve are collapsed into face to face contact. When the sleeves are ofthe wet type they are packed in sealed containers containing a number offlattened sleeves immersed in a liquid.

Obviously the flattened sleeves must be opened into a substantiallycylindrical form before they. may be used. In many types of sleevesthere is a very strong adherence between the inner surnecks ofcontainers and in the course of such transfer will rapidly andpositively separate the opposing walls of the sleeves.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine ofthe type described in the preceding paragraph in which special provisionis made for the separation of the inner surfaces of opposing walls ofthe banding sleeves.

It is a further specific object of the present invention to provide amachine of the type described having a rotary turret in which one ormore units for applying banding sleeves move in synchronism withcontainers to which the sleeves are to be applied, and a singlemechanism for removing sleeves individually from a supply,

opening them and positioning them successively '55 2 for transfer to thesleeve-applying unit or units of the turret.

It is a further specific object of the present invention to provide animproved mechanism for handling and applying to containers bandingsleeves of the wet type.

Other and further objects of the present invention in part will beobvious and in part will become more apparent upon a consideration ofthe following description of a preferred embodiment of the inventiontaken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming a part ofthe specification. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 1a is a detailed view of a banding sleeve of the type for which thepresent invention is adapted;

Fig. 1b illustrates one manner of manipulatin the banding sleeve shownin Fig. 1a to facilitate opening thereof;

Fig. 1c is a section alon the line lc-lc of Fig. lb;

Fig. 2 is a development diagram of a barrel cam for controlling thesleeve-applying mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of a sleeve-applyingunit and other parts of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sec- 0 tional view takenalong the line 'l'| of Fig. 4,

which line indicates intersecting vertical planes;

Fig. 7a is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line'|a|a of Fig. 3, in which certain parts have been turned through forclarity of illustration;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section and partiallyin elevation illustrating the sleeve opening and transferring mechamsm;

Fig. 8a. is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts shown in Fig.8, the section being taken along line 8a8a in Fig. 18;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 -is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill ofFig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line ll-H of Fig.8, which also includes a timing diagram in which the positions of theopening and transferring mechanism are indicated by the characters athrough 1;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a gear and pinionassemblyfor driving certain of the parts illustrated in Fig. 8;

Figs. 13 through 17 are fragmentary elevations showing progressively theoperation of the sleeve opening and transferring mechanism, the partsbeing shown in positions a through 9;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the sleeve opening and transferring mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the lineIii-l9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line20-20 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line2l2l of Fig. 8;

Figs. 22 through 33 are diagrammatic views illustrating progressivelythe operation of a sleeve-applying unit, the positions of the partsbeing identified by the numeralsv I through 12; and

Fig. 34 is a diagram illustrating the complete sequence of operationsduring one revolution of the turret and one cycle of operation of theopening and transferring mechanism. In this diagram the turret positionsare indicated by the numerals I through l2, corresponding to those usedin Figs. 22 through 33, and the positions of the transferring andopening mechanism are indicated by the characters a through 9,corresponding with the positions thus indicated in Fig. 11.

General description The machine comprises a base within which may bepositioned a motor 42 and speed reducer or gear box 44 from whichextends a vertical shaft 46 connected through asuitable flexiblecoupling 48 with a main vertical drive shaft 50 which extends to the topof the machine as shown in Fig. 1. A conveyer 52 is associated with themachine and the intake end of this conveyer lies to the left of themachine as viewed in Fig. 1. The conveyer 52 includes a movable belt 54or other suitable device which serves to urge a line of containers 56 inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

Desirably the containers 56 are brought to the machine upon the intakeend of the conveyer 52 in a solid line, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Assuccessive containers 56 are brought toward the operative portion of themachine they come into contact with a suitable star wheel mechanismwhich in the illustrated embodiment comprises an upper disc 58 and alower disc 60 fixed to the main shaft 50 for rotation therewith. Each ofthe discs 58 and 60 is provided with an appropriate number of notches 62shaped to receive the particular form of container 56 for which themachine is adapted. The present machine includes two diametricallyopposed operating units upon a rotary turret, and accordingly, notches62 are formed in the discs 56 and 60 in diametrlcally oppositepositions. Obviously, this is a matter of choice, dictated entirely bythe number of operating units which it may be desired to include in therotary turret.

' A guide rail 64 is provided in proper association with the conveyer 52for the purpose of maintaining the containers 56 in proper positionthereon. In the operative zone of the machine the guide rail 64 hasformed therein an arcuately bulged portion 66 which conforms with thecircular contour of the discs 58 and 66. The bulged portion 66 is, ofcourse, spaced from the discs 66 and 66 a distance appropriate for theparticular container for which the machine is adapted.

Beyond the operative portion of the machine the guide rail 64 reassumesparallelism with the conveyer 52 to maintain the containers 56 in properalignment as they progress along the discharge side of the conveyer 52.As is clearly shown in Fig. l, the containers on the discharge side ofthe conveyer will assume spaced positions thereon because of theirsuccessive engagement with the notched discs 58 and 66. The path oftravel of the containers 561s diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 34.

The mechanism thus far described is conventional and obviously anysuitable modifications thereof may be employed, it being necessary onlythat a suitable supply of containers be furnished to the rotary turretdevices in proper alignment with the operative elements thereof.

The containers 56 illustrated in the drawings comprise filled bottles towhich closures 69 have been applied. These closures may comprise crowncaps, screw caps or flanged or flared corks, or any other form ofclosure with which the use of banding sleeves is practicable. For thepurposes of illustration it may be assumed that the closures 69 are thefamiliar, molded plastic screw caps.

. It is the function of the machine herein disclosed to apply a bandingsleeve to each of the containers 56. The form of banding sleeve chosenfor illustration herein is the contractible cellulosic type which isapplied in wet, expanded condition and is permitted to dry and shrinkinto tight engagement with the container. The sleeve may be positionedon the neck of the container or it may be desirable to position thesleeve in such a manner that a portion thereof will shrink into tightengagement with the container and another portion will shrink into tightengagement with the closure. This provides a breakable seal between thecontainer and closure which must be destroyed before access may be hadto the contents of the container. In either case it will be apparentthat it is necessary for the machine herein disclosed to position thebanding sleeves successively upon the necks of the bottles in anaccurate and reliable manner.

To this end there is provided improved applying mechanism which servesto position the sleeves, as well as improved mechanisms for extractingthe sleeves from a supply, insuring the opening of each sleeve from itscollapsed condition and transferring the opened sleeves to the applyingmechanism. The magazine, the opening and transferring mechanism and theapplying the mechanism will be described in the order named in a generalway in the present section of this specification and in detail inappropriately headed sections hereinbelow.

In Fig. 1 a magazine is generally indicated at 68. This magazine issupported upon a main frame member 76 arising from the base 46 of themachine. The magazine 68 is arranged to contain a single stack ofcollapsed banding sleeves in which the lowermost banding sleeve isexposed for engagement by the opening and transferring mechanism. Inorder to bring about such engagement it is necessary to cause a relativemovement between the magazine and the opening and transferringmechanism. To this end the magazine is mounted for vertical movementrelative to the frame member 10. An extension 12 is formed upon themagazine and is connected by a link 14 with a bell crank lever 16pivoted at 18 within the base 40. A spring 80 may be provided to urgethe bell crank lever I6 to rotate in a clockwise direction and tooperate through the link "I4 to urge the magazine 68 in a downwarddirection. A cam follower 82 is carried by the bell crank lever I6 forengagement with a disc cam 84 carried upon the main shaft 50. The cam 84may be suitably contoured to impart vertical movement to the magazine 68in proper timed relation with operation of other parts of the machine.

The opening and transferring mechanism is indicated generally at 86 inFig. 1. This mechanism operates to remove the banding sleeves one at atime from the magazine 68 and to open the sleeves. This mechanismfurthermore operates to position the opened sleeves for individualtransfer to the applying mechanism. When a sleeve 88 is removed from themagazine it is in the flattened condition illustrated in Fig. 1a whereinthe opposing walls 90, 9| are collapsed upon one another, and relativelysharp creases 92 are formed along lines parallel to the axis 94 uponwhich the sleeve is to be opened into the form of an open-endedcylinder. The opening and transferring mechanism 86 includes means formoving portions of the walls 90, 9| relative to each other to forceother portions of these walls to separate. An example of such movementis shown in Fig. 1b wherein the central portions of walls 90, 9| havebeen moved relative to one another in the plane of contact of the innersurfaces thereof and in a direction generally parallel with the axis 94.Since the sleeve 88 is in the form of a continuous ring such relativemovement will twist or distort the sleeve to such an extent that theinner surfaces of the walls 90, 9| will separate in regions 96 adjacentthe creases 92. The air thus admitted between these portions of theinner surfaces of the walls 90, 9| will greatly facilitate separation ofthe remaining portions of the walls. In Fig. 10 it will be observed thatthe portions of the inner surfaces of walls 90, 9| adjacent the axis 94are still in face to face contact in spite of the displacement of thewalls in the direction of such axis. As stated above, however, theseportions may be readily separated becauseof the separation which suchdisplacement has caused in other regions of the sleeve. The principleherein involved may be embodied in various ways in addition to theparticular manner herein illustrated. The displacement of the walls 90,9| within the plane of contact of the inner surfaces thereof may be inany direction within such plane and may follow linear or curved paths.The opening and transferring mechanism 86 has been designed to displacethe walls 90, 9| in what is believed to be the simplest mannercalculated to produce a sufficient preliminary separation of the innersurfaces to facilitate mechanical completion of such separation.

After the preliminary separation discussed above, the separation may becompleted by any suitable apparatus, and in the embodiment illustratedherein suction devices are brought into contact with opposite exteriorsurfaces of the walls 90, 9 I. The suction devices are then bodilyseparated to effect complete separation of the inner surfaces of thewalls 90, 9|. When such separation is effected the banding sleeve willassume a generally cylindrical shape, and in this condition it may betransferred to the applying.

mechanism.

The applyin mechanism is incorporated in a turret 98 rotatable about themain shaft 50. As

. sleeve-applying units rotate about the main shaft 50, andprogressively operate to successively remove the opened banding sleevesfrom the transferring mechanism 06 and apply them individually to thecontainers 66.

Banding sleeve magazine Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, themagazine 68 is preferably constructed as follows: The frame member I0includes a forwardly extending portion I02 upon which is formed abracket I04 having a groove I06 extending therein in a verticaldirection. To the walls defining the groove I06 there is secured a pairof rails I08 which extend inwardly over a portion of the groove I06 todefine guides for the reception of flanges IIIi formed upon a slide H2.The slide 2 comprises the support for the sleeve-carrying portion of themagazine. This sleeve-carrying portion is made up of two oppositelydisposed. inwardly directed, channel-shaped members 4 and H6 held inproper spaced relationship with one another by strips II8, I20connecting the flange portions of the members H4 and H6 (see Fig. 3).The space between the channel members H4 and H6 thus comprises a well ofrectangular cross-section within which collapsed banding sleeves 88 maybe stacked in a single stack disposed as illustrated in Fig. 4.Obviously the dimensions of this well will be chosen with regard to thespecific size of banding sleeve which it is intended to use.

At the lower end of the well thus defined the flanges of the channelmembers H4 and H6 are cut away as indicated at I22 in Fig. 3. Beneaththe level at which the flanges are thus cut away each of the channels 4and III; have secured thereto a narrow, horizontally disposed flangeI24, one of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 (see also Fig. 4).The flanges I24 project inwardly toward one another and serve to formsupports for the opposite creased ends of the banding sleeves 88. Theflanges I24 thus support the stack of banding sleeves 88 located withinthe magazine and at the same time leave the major portion of theexterior surface of the lowermost sleeve exposed for engagement by thetransferring mechanism 96. The flanges I24 are spaced from the cut-awayends I22 such a distance as to define an opening whose verticaldimension is approximately equal to the thickness of a single collapsedbanding sleeve 88. This opening is illustrated in Fig. 3 at I26. It isthrough the opening I26 that the banding sleeves 88 are removed one at atime by the transferring mechanism 86.

The extension 12 and link I4 heretofore described in connection withFig. 1 are shown in Fig. 4 and it will be observed that the extension I2is formed as a part of a polygonal collar I28 secured to the magazine 68adjacent the lower end thereof. Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be"observed that there is also secured to the polygonal collar I28 a springblade I30 upon the outer end of which is carried a friction roller I32having a knurled surface or a surface of rubber,

leather or the like. In Fig. 4 it will be seen that the roller I32 isnarrower than a collapsed handling sleeve 88 and that it is positionedapproximately centrally of the width of the banding sleeves 8-8 withinthe magazine 68. The lower peripheral surface of the roller I32 isarranged within a plane somewhat below the plane within which thelowermost banding sleeve 88 is supported within the magazine 68. Thisarrangement is for a purpose to be described hereinbelow.

From the above detailed description of the magazine it will be apparentthat all of the elements mounted upon the slide H2 are movablevertically with respect to the frame member 10. The apparatus foreffecting vertical movement of the magazine has been described above.Reference may be had to Figs. 13, 14 and 15 for an 11- lustration of theextraction of the lowermost banding sleeve 88 from the magazine 68.Further reference will be made to these latter figures in thedescription of the transferring and opening mechanism.

Opening and transferring mechanism A detailed description of the openingand transferring mechanism will be given with particular reference toFigs. 8 through 21. This mechanism is principally carried by a bracketI34 mounted for limited pivotal oscillation about the center of the maindrive shaft 50 (see Figs. 8 and 18). As shown in these figures, bracketI34 comprises a generally horizontally disposed arm having formedthereon a hub I36 arranged concentrically with the shaft 50. The bracketI34 has suitable guideways formed thereon in which are received twoseparate slides. One of these slides I38 is shown in section in Fig. 19and may be seen through rectangular openings I40 in the bracket I34 inFig. 18. The slide I38 carries a bearing I39 which receives a shaft I4Ion which is mounted an arm I 42 having a perforated suction head I44thereon. The arm I42 will be hereinreferrecl to as a suction arm andwill be described in greater detail hereinbelow. The other slide I46 hasformed thereon a rack I48 which meshes with a pinion I50 fixed to theshaft Hi. The slides I38 and I46 may be moved jointly or independentlyin directions longitudinal of the bracket I34. When these slides aremoved jointly there will be no relative movement between the rack I48and pinion I50, and the arm I42 will therefore be maintained in itsangular position but will, of course, be bodily displaced to the extentof displacement of the slide I38 upon which it is carried. When theslides I38 and I46 are moved relatively to one another the rack I48 andpinion I50 will operate to change the angular position of the arm I42.Whether or not the arm I42 is bodily displaced during such operation isdependent upon whether or not the slide I38 is itself moved. It will beapparent that proper manipulation of the slides I38 and I46 may be thusavailed of to produce angular displacement and bodily displacement ofthe arm I42 in any manner or combination desired. A proper combinationand sequence of such movements is employed in the present apparatus toremovea banding sleeve from the magazine 68, impart to it a, preliminaryopening operation, and complete the opening thereof in a position fortransfer to the applying apparatus.

The limited pivotal oscillation of the bracket I34 about the center ofshaft 50 is availed of to move a banding sleeve carried thereby in thepath of rotation of the turret 88 for a suficlent period of time topermit transfer of such banding sleeve to one of the applying units I00.When the transfer has been effected the bracket I34 swings back to aposition for removal of another banding sleeve from the magazine 68. Itwill be appreciated that since there is provided herein a singletransferring and opening mechanism 86 and that there are two units I00in the turret 98 the mechanism 86 will have to perform two completeoperations for each rotation of the turret 98. It is preferred to makeuse of the main drive shaft 50 foractuation of the mechanism 86, and tothis end it was found to be desirable to provide cams driven by theshaft 50 and properly contoured for actuation of the slides I38 and I46of the mechanism 86. It will be apparent from a consideration of thedescription hereinbelow that the movements of the slides I38 and I46 arerelatively complex. Thus to avoid the necessity for providing cams oflarge diameter with dupli cate contours in each 180 segment thereof, ithas been found to be decidedly advantageous to provide for driving thecontrol cams for the mechanism 86 at an angular speed twice that of themain drive shaft 50.

One form of mechanism for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 12 whereina gear I52 is keyed to the shaft 50. The gear I52 meshes with a pinionI54 upon a stub shaft I56 suitably supported in a bracket 4| mounted onthe base 40 of the machine. A gear I58 is also carried by the stub shaftI56. The gear I58 and pinion I54 are fixed to one another for jointrotation and may be formed integrally as shown in Fig. 12. The gear I58meshes with a pinion I60 keyed to a sleeve I62 rotatably mounted uponthe shaft 50. The pitch diameters of the gears I52 and I58 and pinionsI54 and I60 are such as to establish a ratio of 122 between the shaft 50and sleeve I62. Thus upon each revolution of the shaft 50 the sleeve I62will make two revolutions about the center of the shaft 50 and in thesame direction of rotation.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the sleeve I62 extendsupwardly of the shaft 50 for a distance sufficient to carry a number ofelements of the machine. It will also be observed that the hub I36 ofbracket I34 bears upon the exterior surface of the sleeve I62 and isfree for rotation relative thereto.

The sleeve I62 has fixed for rotation therewith cams I64, I66 and I68which are provided for actuation of the opening and transferringmechanism. The cam I64 is provided with a groove I10 which receives aroller follower I12 carried by an upward extension I14 of the slide I46upon which is formed the rack I48. The slide I46 extends through asuitable guide I16 secured to the bracket I34. An extension I18 may beformed on the guide I16 which serves as a guide rail for the extremityof the slide I46 in which the rack I48 is formed.

The cam I66 has formed therein a groove I which receives a rollerfollower I82 carried by a downward extension I84 formed upon the slideI38. The slide I38 (see Fig. 19) may be formed with flanges I85 ridingin suitable grooves within the bracket I34.

The slides I46 and I38 may thus be moved lengthwise of the bracket I34in accordance with the changes in contour of the cam grooves I10 andI80, respectively.

The cam I68 .is provided with a groove I86 which receives a rollerfollower I88 carried by a rock arm I90. As shown in Fig. 9, the rockarm.

I90 is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft I92 extending upwardlythrough a suitable bearing I94 in the base 40 of the machine. Referringnow to Fig. 18, the shaft I92 has secured thereto a gear segment I96which meshes with a gear segment I98 formed upon the hub I36 of thebracket I34. The contour of the cam groove I86 may be so designed as torock the arm I90. shaft I92 and gear segments I96 and I98 to producelimited pivotal oscillation of the bracket I34 about the center of theshaft 50.

The cam groove I86 just described is so contouredandtimed with theremainder of the machine as to swing the bracket I34 in the samedirection and at the same angular speed as that of the shaft 50 at theproper time for transfer of a banding sleeve from the mechanism 86 to asleeve-applying unit I69. When transfer has been effected the bracketI34 is swung in a reverse direction, after which the bracket I 34remains stationary for a sufllcient period of time to permit removal ofthe next banding sleeve from the magazine 68. From an inspection of Fig.9 it will be apparent that the roller follower I 88 has just entered aportion of the cam groove I86 which is concentric with the shaft 50.Thus the parts are in a position corresponding to that in whichextraction of a new banding sleeve from the magazine 68 is about tooccur. Beyond this portion of the cam groove I86 there is a rise withinwhich the bracket I34 is swung with the shaft 50. Beyond this rise thereis a fall within which the bracket returns to its initial position.

The cam I66 is shown in Fig. 10 while the cam I64 is shown in Fig. 11.In each of these figures the circle around the center of shaft 50' isdivided into segments by radial lines lettered, respectively, a through7'. The roller followers I 82 and I12 are shown in these figures in theposition a. This position corresponds to the position of the rollerfollower I88 in Fig. 9 and accordingly represents the position of themechanism 86 at the time extraction of a new banding sleeve from themagazine 68 is about to occur. In this position the relationship betweenthe slides I38 and I 46 is such that the suction arm I42 stands erect,as illustrated in Fig. 8. I

The magazine 68 is in its upper position and the first operation tooccur is a lowering of the magazine through the operation of the cam 84,shown in Fig. 1. During this t me the cams I66 and I64 rotate a distancerepresented by the segment ab. Within this segment the grooves in bothcams are concentric and no movement of either of the slides will occur.When the magazine has lowered to bring the lowermost banding sleeve 98therein in contact with the perforated head I 44 of the suction arm I42the parts will be in position illustrated in Fig. 13. By means whichwill be described hereinbelow suction is applied to the head I44whereupon the lowermost banding sleeve 88 will be caused to adhere tothe head.

Continued rotation of the cams I64 and I66 through the segment b-c willbring portions of the cam grooves I10 and I8!) into play which areeffective to move both followers I12 and I82 inwardly radially at thesame linear speed. The slides I46 and I38 thus move jointly and thesuction arm I42 is moved bodily to the position shown in Fig. 14 withoutany angular movement. The lowermost banding sleeve 88 will be withdrawnin a horizontal direction from the magazine 68 and will continue toadhere to the 10 head I 44 as a. result of continued application ofsuction.

Continued rotation of the cams I64, I66 through the segment c-d willbring portions of the respective cam grooves into play which producerelative movement between the slides I46 and I38. The groove I of camI66 is concentric while the groove I10 of the cam I64 is directedoutwardly of the center. Thus the slide I46 is moved radially outwardlyof the bracket I34 causing the pinion I50 and suction arm I42 to swingin a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 8 and 15. Within thesegment cd the arm I42 is swung through whereupon it assumes theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 15. In the course of such swingingmovement the banding sleeve 88 carried by the suction arm I42 is broughtinto contact with the friction roller I32 as shown in broken lines inFig. 15. This contact occurs before the magazine 68 moves upwardly. Ifit is borne in mind that the banding sleeve 88 is held to the suctionarm I42 by suction exerted against the outer surface of the lowermostwall 9| thereof it will be apparent that the upper wall 90 may be movedrelative to the lower wall 9|. The characteristics of the frictionroller I32, both as to surface and resistance against rotation, and thepressure exerted by the leaf spring I36 are so chosen as to exertsuflicient drag upon the outer surface of the upper wall 90 to displacethe upper wall relative to the lower wall in the manner illustrated inFig. 1b. As explained above, such displacement results in what might betermed breaking the vacuum between the heretofore intimately contactinginner surfaces of the opposing walls 90 and BI. Thus the friction rollerI32 comprises one mechanical embodiment of a means for effecting adisplacementof the type discussed above in connection with Figs. 1a, 1band 10. If so desired the cam groove I10 of cam I64 may be made slightlyirregular within the segment cd to impart irregular swinging movement tothe arm I42 to accentuate introduction of air between the walls 90, 9|of the sleeve 88.

When the suction arm I 42 has moved beyond the friction roller I32 themagazine 68 may be moved upwardly into the position illustrated in fulllines in Fig. 15. Such operation is performed by the cam 84 shown inFig. 1.

Further rotation of the cams I64 and I66 through the segment de bringsinto play portions of the cam grooves I10 and I80 which produce jointinward radial movement of the slides I46 and I38, respectively. Thesuction arm I42 is thus bodily moved into the position illustrated infull lines in Fig. 16 without angular movement about its pivot.

In this position the outer surface of the wall 90 of the banding sleeve88 is brought into contact with a perforated suction head 260 fixed tothe bracket I34. At about this time suction is applied to the head 206by means which will be more fully described hereinbelow, and the wall'90 will thereupon be adhered to the; suction head 200. The preliminaryopening of the banding sleeve 88 which has occurred as a result of itscontact with the friction roller I32 may be suificient to permit openingof the sleeve to be completed by moving the suction head I42 radiallyoutwardly of the bracket I 34 whereby to carry the wall 9I away from thewall 90. If desired, however, an additional preliminar opening operationmay be performed upon the sleeve 88 prior to the aforesaid radialmovement of suc- 11 tion arm 442. As a matter of fact, the entirepreliminary opening operation may be performed in the manner about to bedescribed, thereby eliminating the friction roller I32. It is preferred,however, to make use of both of the Dreliminary opening means disclosedherein? This further preliminary separation of the walls 90 and 9I maybe efiected during rotation of the cams I64 and I66 through the segmente-f. To this end the groove I10 of cam I64 may be made irregular incontour within the segment ef. while the contour of groove I80 remainsregular. Since the contours of the two cam I grooves I10 and I80 do notmatch within the segment ef a relative movement will occur between theslides I46 and I38. Such relative movement will cause angular movementor rocking of the suction arm I42, as illustrated in broken lines inFig. 16. It will be apparent that since the wall 9I is adhered to thesuction arm I42 and the will 90 is adhered to the suction head 200 thesetwo walls will be subjected to a facewise slipping motion similar tothat illustrated in Fig. 1b.

Immediately that the preliminary opening operation just described isperformed the suction arm I42 is moved away from the suction head 200.This occurs during rotation of the cams I94 and I66 through the segmentfg within which both cam grooves I10 and I80 are outwardly directed insuch manner as to move both slides I46 and I38 radially outwardly at thesame rate of speed.

During movement of the cams I64 and I66 through the segment the cam I68is rotated into such position as to initiate movement of the bracket I34about the center of the drive shaft 60. Such movement is in the samedirection of rotation and at the same angular speed as the shaft 60.Thus when the machine reaches the position represented by the radialline 9 the sleeve 88 will be completely opened and will be moving in thesame direction and at the same speed as the sleeve-applying unit I00 ofthe turret 98 to which the sleeve is to be transferred. The operation oftransferring occurs during rotation of the cams I64 and I66 through thesegment gh, and it will be noted that through this segment the contourof both of the cam grooves I10 and I80 is concentric. When the positionrepresented by radial line h is reached transfer has been completed andthe cam I68 has reached a position such that the bracket I34 stops andreverses its motion whereby to return to its initial position. Thereversing operation continues through the entire segment Within thesegment hi the parts upon the bracket I34 remain stationary relative toone another and the cam grooves I10 and I80 are both concentric.

When the cams I64 and P66 reach the position represented by theradialline i the roller follower I12 reaches a portion of the cam grooveI10 directed inwardly toward the center of the cam I64, while the rollerfollower I82 continues to move within a portion of the cam groove I80which is concentric. Thus the slide I46 will be moved inwardly radiallyof the bracket I34 and relatively to the slide I38. Such movementproduces rotation of the pinion I50 and suction arm 42 in a clockwisedirection through 90 to return the suction arm I42 to an erect position.This latter movement occurs during travel of the cams I64 and I66through the segment i-y'.

As the cams move through the segment j-a the bracket I34 continues itsreturn movement and the roller follower I82 traverses a portion of thecam groove I which is directed outwardly of the cam I66 in such manneras to move the slide I38 outwardly of the bracket I34 at the same linearspeed as that of the slide I46. The suction arm I42 is thus bodily movedto the extremity of the bracket I34 into a position for repetition ofthe cycle just described. This latter position is that illustrated inFig. 8.

Suitable means must be provided for applying and relieving suction atthe proper times for engagement and release of the banding sleeve 88.

Referring first to Fig. 19, the suction arm I42 is provided with apassageway 202 communicating with the hollow portion 204 of the headI44. The passageway 202 terminates in an opening formed in one verticalface of the suction arm I42 within the area confined by the bifurcatedportion of the bearing I39. This opening communicates with an arcuatelyshaped port 206 formed in one of the legs of bearing I39, and the port206 communicates with a passageway 208 extending through the bearing I39and into the slide I38. The arrangement just described is suchthat thesuction head I44 and the passageway 208 are in communication in allangular positions of the suction arm I42.

Referring now to Fig. 8a, it will be observed that the passageway 208communicates with a horizontally disposed passageway 2I0 which extendsradially inwardly of the slide I38 and terminates at its inner end in'aport 2I2. The bracket I34 has formed therein an elongated port 2I4 whichis of such length as to remain in constant communication with the port2I2 irrespective of the position of the slide I38 upon the bracket I34.The port 2I4 is connected with a horizontal passageway 2I6 whichextends, as shown in Fig. 8, through the hub portion I36 of the bracketI 34. The passageway 2I6 opens into the inner bearing surface of the hubI36.

The suction head 200 is formed in the bracket I 34 as pointed out above,and as shown in Fig. 8 it is provided with a passageway 2 I8 whichextends from the hollow portion of the suction head radially inwardly ofthe bracket I34 and opens through the inner bearing surface of the hubI36.

In Fig. 20 there is shown one form of valve means which may be sodesigned as to connect the suction'head 200 with a suitable source ofsuction and to disconnect the same at the proper time within the cycleof operations. The sleeve I62 is provided with a portion 220 whichextends circumferentially of the sleeve for a substantial distance. Theport 220 is arranged to communicate with the passageway 2I8 uponrotation of the sleeve I62 to a predetermined position. The drive shaft50 has a hole 222 drilled diametrically therethrough which communicateswith a vertical passageway 224 extending lengthwise of the drive shaft50.

It will be recalled that in the embodiment .chosen for illustration theturret 98 is provided with two sleeve-applying units I00 which aredisposed in diametrically opposite positions upon the turret. It willalso be recalled that the sleeve I62 rotates-twice for each singlerotation of the main drive shaft 50. Thus the opposite ends of diametralhole 222 serve alternately as a port communicating with the port 220.The position illustrated in Fig. 20 corresponds to that represented byradial line a in Figs. 10 and 11. When the sleeve I62 rotates in itscounterclockwise direction to the position represented by the radialline e the port 228 will have reached a position in which it opens intothe passageway 2I8. During this time the diametral hole 222 will haveadvanced an angular distance one half that of the port 228 into apositiondn whichone end or the other thereof will open into the port220. When this communication occurs suction is ap plied to the head 208.

Since the port 220 extends cir urn-frentially of the sleeve I62 suctionwill continue to be applied to the head 200 for a period of timesuflicient to permit opening of the banding sleeve 88 and holding of thesame in opened position until the proper sleeve-applying unit I08 hasentered and engaged the banding sleeve 88 in the manner to be describedbelow. At this time the sleeve I62 will have progressed to such a pointthat suction is terminated.

In Fig. 21 a valving arrangement is shown for the suction arm 142. In aposition opposite the passageway 2 I 6 the sleeve I62 has formed thereina circumferential port 226. It will be observed that the port 226extends through more than one half the circumference of the sleeve I62and accordingly there is provided a skeleton structure 228'to increasemechanical strength at this point. Nevertheless, the port 226 iscontinuous throughout the indicated portion of a circumference. ,Theshaft 58 is provided with oppositely disposed ports 230 which extendcircumferentially of the shaft for a considerable distance and whichcommunicate with the passageway 224. The ports 226 and 238 are sodimensioned that they will interconnect the passageways 2I6 and 224 fromthe time the opening and transferringmechanism reaches a position withinthe segment a-b until the proper sleeve-applying unit 98 has engaged thesleeve at a point within the segment g-h. Thus suction is applied afterthe magazine 68 moves downwardly to bring the lowermost sleeve 88therein into contact with the suction head I44 and continues to beapplied until transfer is to be effected.

It'will be observed that one or the other of the ports 238 will be inoperative position at the beginning of a cycle of operation of theopening and transferring mechanism. This of course depends upon which ofthe sleeve-applying units I88 is moving into position to engage asleeve.

The passageway 224 extends upwardly of the shaft 58 in order that it maycommunicate with parts of the turret to be described hereinbelow. Thispassageway also extends downwardly of the shaft 50 into the base 48 ofthe machine. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is provided a suitablypacked suction box 232 connected by a main suction pipe 234 to asuitable source of suction such as a vacuum pump. The passageway 224within the shaft 58 is arranged to communicate continuously with theinterior of the suction box 232.

Turret and sleeve-applying units The turret 98 and the sleeve-applyingunits carried thereby will now be described with particular reference toFigs. 3 through 7a. The operation and timing of these elements will thenbe described with particular reference. to Figs. 22 through 34. Asstated above, the sleeve-applying units I are duplicates and only one ofthem will be described in detail. It should be pointed out at the outsetthat these units operate successively to take an opened banding sleevefrom the opening and transferring mechanism 86 and apply such sleeve tosuccessively presented containers 56. To this end the units I08 arediametrically positioned upon the turret-98 in the embodiment chosen forillustration. Obviously it is a matter of choice in the interests ofsound machine design to make use of a single sleeve-applying unit ormore than two sleeve-applying units. In the design of the presentmachine it has been found to be preferable to use the two units hereinillustrated.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the rotary part of the turret comprisesspaced upper and lower plates 236 and 238 connected by verticallydisposed angle irons 240. The structure thus formed rotates about thecenter of the main drive shaft 58. The frame member 16 is provided witha forwardly extending hood or cover portion 242 to which is rigidlysecured a cylindrical body 244 arranged concentrically with the shaft58. The cylindrical body 244 is thus fixed against rotation and itserves as the support for the non-rotary portions of the turret 98.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the section line 4-4- liesabove the upper plate 236 and that the section line 5-5 lies just abovethe lower plate 238. Then referring to Fig. 4 it will be apparent thatthe upper plate 236 is in the form of a flat ring, the innercircumference of which is spaced from the non-rotary part\ of the turretsupported by the cylindrical body 244. In Fig. 5 the lower plate 238 isshown as comprising a substantially complete circle. The angle irons 240are secured to the upper and lower plates 236 and 238, respectively, andin the embodiment illustrated four angle irons 248 are provided. Figs. 4and 5 also show that the sleeve-applying units I extend between and arecarried by the upper and lower plates 236 and 238.

Referring now to Fig. '7, the lower plate 238 has secured thereto a hub246 which is keyed to against the outer surface of a cylindrical body252 which'is fixed against rotation by securing it to the fixedcylindrical body 244 as by screws 245. The cylindrical body 252 will bemore fully described hereinbelow, but it is apparent that the surfacethereof and the rollers 248 provide a bearing for the upper portion ofthe rotary parts of the turret.

The cylindrical body 252 referred to above is one of a plurality of suchbodies 254, 256, 258 and 268 fixed upon the outer surface of thecylindrical body 244. The adjacent edges of each of these bodies areirregularly contoured for the purpose of defining between such bodies aplurality of cam grooves. In Fig. 2 the bodies 252, 254,

256,258 and 268 and the cam grooves 262, 264, 266

with the numbers I though I2 used in the timing chart shown in Fig. 34.I

The structure just described comprises a fixed barrel cam around whichthe rotary portions of the turret 98 rotate during operation of themachine The cam grooves 262, 264, 266 and 268 are properly contoured tocause operation of various movable elements in the sleeve-applying unitsI00. If so desired the fixed cylindrical body 244 may be recessed asindicated at 210 behind each of the cam grooves to provide clearance forthe roller followers which will be described below.

Certain operative parts of the sleeve-applying mechanism extend belowthe general level of the lower plate 238. These parts are supported bydownwardly projecting plates 212 (see Fig. '1) which are secured at theouter ends of two spokelike members 214 projecting radially from the hub246. The plates 212 extend upwardly into notches 218 (see Fig. in thelower plate 238. It willbe noted with regard to Fig. 5 that the sectionline 55 in Fig. 3 along which Fig. 5 is taken drops downwardly withinthe notch 218 whereby the plate 212 shown therein is shown in section.It will also be noted that parts of plates 212 have been omitted in Fig.3 to avoid confusion. However, it will be apparent from Fig. '1 that theplates 212 terminate at their upper ends within the plane of the uppersurface of the lower plate 238. The plates 212 are thus diametricallyopposed with regard to the main drive shaft 50 and are rigidly securedto the rotary parts of the turret 9B. To each of the plates 212 there issecured a spacer plate 280. To each of the plates 280 (see Fig. 5) thereare secured as by screws 292 L-shaped guide members 284, theinwardly-projecting, overhanging portions of which define with thespacer plate 280 guide channels within which certain movable parts ofthe sleeve-applying mechanism are guided for vertical motion.

It will be noted with regard to Fig. '1 that the section line 11 01 Fig.4 along which Fig. '1 is taken passes through the center of one of thesleeve-applying units I00 and into the center of the drive shaft 50. Thesection line 11 then extends from the center of shaft 50 through thecenter of one of the anti-friction rollers 248. Fig. 7 therefore revealsthe internal construction of one of the sleeve-applying units I00 andshows only a rear, angular view of the other sleeveapplying unit.

The sleeve-applying units I00 will now be described with particularreference to the unit I00 shown in'section in Figs. 7 and 7a. Disposedin vertical alignment for engagement respectively in the cam grooves262, 264, 266 and 268 are roller followers 286, 288, 290 and 292. Theroller follower 286 is rotatably mounted on a horizontal stud 294carried by a casting 296. The casting 296 is formed with a laterallyofi'set, hublike portion which surrounds and is secured to a verticalrod 298, the upper end of which is slidably guided 16 each serve as apivotal support for the finger carrying castings 306 mentioned above.The axis of the pins 318 is so disposed that the fingers 308 may swingtoward and from the vertical axis of the rod 298. The fingers 308 areyieldably urged toward one another and toward said vertical axis bymeans of compression springs 320 confined between the casting 3l4 andupward extensions of the finger-carrying castings 306. The fingers 308may thus be swung toward and from the vertical axis of rod 298 underinfluence of the head or button 302 when movement thereof relatively tothe cams 304 is produced.

Inthe position of the parts shown in Fig. '1 the head 302 has been moveddown between the cams 304 to separate or expand the fingers 308 to themaximum extent desired. Upon relative movement between the head 302 andcams 304 such as to carry the head 302 over the inclined portions of thecams 304 the fingers 308 will swing toward one another under theinfluence of springs 320 and thus assume a collapsed position. The camgrooves 262 and 264 are so contoured as to cause a proper combination ofjoint and independent vertical movements of the rod 298 and Y tube 3l2whereby to collapse and expand the in a bearing 300 carried in the upperplate or ring 236. The lower end of the rod 298 has secured thereto ahead or button 302 disposed to cooperate with a pair of diametricallyopposed internal cams or shoulders 304 formed on a pair of similar butopposed castings 306 from the lower ends of which depend fingers orspreaders 308.

The roller 288 which rides in the cam groove 264 is journaled in amanner similar to that described in connection with the roller 286 to acasting 3l0 secured to the upper end of a tube 3l2 slidabl mounted uponthe rod 298.

At its lower end the tube 3l2 has secured to it a casting 3 I 4 having apair of. oppositely-disposed bifurcated bearing lugs 3 I 6, each ofwhich carries a pivot pin 3l8. The casting 3| 4 and lugs 3| 6 areclearly shown in Fig. 3. The pivot pins 3l8 fingers 308 and move themvertically in collapsed or expanded position during rotation of theturret.

The roller follower 290 which rides in the cam groove 266 is journaledin a casting 322 having formed therein a laterally extending hub-likeportion similar to that described above in connection with the castings296 and 3l0. The hub-like portion of casting 322 surrounds and isslidable relative to the tube 3I2 to permit relative vertical slidingmotion between the casting 322 and tube 3|2. Referring now to Fig. 3, itwill be observed that the casting 322 is similar to the castings 296 and3l0 in a manner not heretofore described. Eachof these castings includesoppositely-disposed guiding portions which are apertured to embrace insliding relation a pair of vertical guide rods 324 fixed at their upperand lower ends, respectively, to the upper plate 236 and the lower plate238. The structure just described prevents the castings 296, 3l0 and 322from rotating about the axis of the rod 298. The casting 322 has fixedthereto the upper ends of parallel vertical rods 326 which are disposedin a generally opposed relationship with regard to the axis of the rod298 and tube 3|2. At their lower ends the rods 326 are secured to acasting 328.

Referring now to Fig. '1, the casting 328 may be seen in section, and itshould be observed that in Fig. 7 the rods 326 as well as the rods 324have been omitted to avoid confusion of the showing. The rear or innervertical wall of the casting 328 is in slidable engagement with asliding valve member 330 mounted for vertical, reciprocator movement inthe guide channel defined by elements 280 and 284 described above andshown in Fig. 5. The sliding valve member 330 has a horizontal radialpassage 332 which in one vertical position of the parts communicateswith a hole 334 in the slide 330. The hole 334 communicates with a long,vertically disposed port 336 formed in the slide 330. The plate 280 hasformed therein a hole 338 which communicates with the long port 336 andwhich also communicates with the outer end of a pipe 340 connected by asuitable nipple 342 with a short section of pipe 344 threaded into themain drive shaft 50. The pipe 344 communicates with a passage 346 withinthe shaft 50 which in turn opens into the vertical passageway 224 whichhas been described above. The slide valve arrangement and other partsjust described are thus connected through the passageway 224' with thesource of suction heretofore described.

The roller follower 292 which rides in the cam groove 268 is journaledto a casting 348 similar to the castings 296, 318 and 322 describedabove. The casting 348 is, however, apertured to permit the free passagetherethrough of the slide rods 328, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thusthe casting 348 and the rods 326 may move relative to one another invertical directions. Referring back to Fig. 7, the casting 348 hasformed thereon a downwardly projecting portion'358 which is" aperturedcentrally of the rod 298 to receive a stud 352 which is secured to thesliding valve plate 330. Thus upward and downward motion of the roller292 in its travel within the cam groove 268 will produce upward anddownward motion of the sliding valve plate 338. From an inspection ofFig. 7 it will be apparent that the hole 334' in the valve plate 338 maythus be moved into and out of registry with the horizontal passageway332 in the casting 328. Inasmuch as the casting 328 may be movedupwardly and downwardly in accordance with the travel of the roller 298in the cam groove 266 it will be apparent that, depending upon thedesign of the cam grooves, the hole 334 and passage 332 may bemaintained in or out of alignment at will. If it is desired to maintainalignment it is only necessary to move the casting 328 and sliding valvemember 338 jointly, whereas any relative movement of substantial naturewill result in misalignment. It will be recalled that the port 336communicating with the hole 334 is elongated to such an extent as tomaintain constant communication with the hole 338 and with the pipe 348leading to the source of suction. Thus the horizontal passageway 332 maybe connected with or disconnected from the source of suction at will.

The casting 328 which has just been described is provided as a movablesupport for an oppositely disposed pair of suction pads 354 which areswingable toward and from each other and toward and from the verticalaxis of the rod 298 in a plane normal to the plane in which the fingers388 are swingable.

In Fig. 7 the casting 328 is shown as including two forwardly projectingportions which embrace in slidable relation the tube 312. The lower ofthese projecting portions is identified by the reference numeral 356 andit is in this forwardly projecting portion 356 that the horizontalpassageway 332 is located. Referring now to Fig. 3, the forwardlyprojecting portion 356 of casting 328 is shown in elevation, and it willbe observed that th s portion has formed thereon twooppositely-disposed, downwardly projecting extensions 358. The suctionpads 354 mentioned above are mounted on the lower ends of tubular arms368 whose upper ends are swiveled to the extensions 358 along axes thatare perpendicular to the plane in which Fig. 3 is drawn.

Referring back to Fig. '7, the forwardly extending portion 356 of thecasting 328 is shown as having formed therein a passageway 362 whichextends transversely of and communicates with the radially horizontalpassage 332. The passageway 362 extends cross-wise of the casting 328and beyond the vertical axis of rod 298 on both sides thereof.Passageways 364 extend from opposite ends of the passageway 362forwardly u.- in) of the projecting portion 356. The two passageways 364may be drilled in from the front of the casting and each may be closedoil by suitable means such as a screw plug 366.

From this point on the description will be directed to Fig. 7a and willbe limited to the suction pad mechanism through which the section line1a1a runs. It will b understood that the other suction pad mechanism isa mirror image.

The downwardly projecting portion 358 has formed therein a verticalpassageway 368 which communicates with passageway 364. This downwardextension 358 also has formed therein a horizontally disposed bearingboss which receives a rotatable swivel body 318. The swivel body 318 hasformed therein an annular groove 312 arranged to communicate with thevertical passageway 368 in all positions of rotation of the swivel body318. One or more passageways may be drilled within the annular groove312 as shown at 314 to communicate with a horizontally disposedpassageway 316 generally coinciding with the axis of the swivel body.318. At the opposite end of the swivel body similar radial passageways318 communicating with an annular groove 388 are provided. A hub 382 isfitted over the latter end of the swivel body and is brought intoairtight rotatable engagement with the downwardly projecting portion 358of the casting by means such as a cap screw 386. The hub 382 has ahollow extension 384 formed thereon in such position as to communicatewith the annular roove 388.

The tubular arm 368 heretofore mentioned is mounted in the hollowextension 384 of hub 382 whereby the arm 368 may swing about the swiveland remain in constant communication with the passageway 332 in thecasting 328.

-It will be observed in Fig. 7a that the suction pad 354 thereinillustrated has been turned through relative to the other parts in saidfigure to illustrate the internal construction thereof. The pad 354 issecured to the lower closed end of the tubular arm 368 and is providedwith a hollow portion 388 and a perforated face plate 388 against whichone wall of the banding sleeve 88 may be adhered. The hollow portion 388communicates through a passageway 392 and a suitable opening 394 in thetubular arm 368 with the interior of said arm.

Referring now to Fig. 3 wherein both of the tubular arms 368 areillustrated, it will be observed that a contractile spring 396 issecured at its opposite ends to studs 398 carried by clamps 488 securedto each of the suction arms 368. 'Phe spring 396 urges the arms 368 toswing toward one another about their respective swivel mechanisms.

Each of the arms 368 also carries clamp members 4'82 upon the rear ofeach of which is rotatably mounted a roller 484 (see Fig. 7a). A camplate 486 is secured to the lower'end of the sliding valve plate 338(see Fig. '7) and the rollers 484 are arranged within the plane of saidcam plate 486 whereby the spring 396 will yieldably urge the rollers 484against the opposite edges thereof. As shown in Fig. 3, each of theopposite edges of the cam plate 486 have formed therein an incline 488.When the rollers bear against the edge .Dortions of the cam plate 486above the inclines 488 the suction pads 354 will be relatively closetogether and in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 29, forexample. Upon relative vertical movement between the cam plate 19 408and the rollers 404' such as to carrythe rollers over the inclines 408the suction pads 354 will be moved farther apart into the positionshown, for example, in Figs. 22 and 28.

The relative movement between cam plate 408 and the rollers 404 may beproduced by independent vertical movement of the slide 330 or thecasting 328 or by joint vertical movement thereof at different speeds.Obviously the contour of the barrel cam grooves 286 and 288 may be sodesigned as to produce such relative motion at any desired time.

Operation The operation of the various mechanisms above described hasbeen quite completely set forth in connection with the detaileddescription. Accordingly it will be necessary only to describe theoperations of the various parts from the standpoint of the relativetiming of such operations necessary to produce the desired result. Thedescription of the operation will therefore be based principally uponthe timing diagram in Fig. 34 with further reference to the diagrammaticFigs. 22 through 33.

The operation of the opening and transferring mechanism 88 has beenquite fully set forth hereinabove. In such description the operation ofthis particular mechanism was carried to the position of partsillustrated in Fig. 17 wherein a banding sleeve 88 is held in openposition between the suction heads I44- and 200. The description of thismechanism has also brought out that the bracket I34 is moved about thecenter of the main vertical drive shaft 50 at an angular speedcorresponding to the angular speed of the constantly rotating turret 88.

It will be apparent that such angular movement of the bracket I34 mustoccur when a sleeve-applying unit I has reached a position of verticalalignment with the opened sleeve 88. Referring now to Fig. 34, theradial center line of the bracket I34 occupies an angular relationshipcorresponding to the radial line 2 during operation of the mechanism 86to extract a sleeve 88 from the magazine 88 and to perform thepreliminary opening of the sleeve 88. Thus the operations of themechanism 86 which occur during rotation of the cams I84 and I88 (seeFig. 11) through the segment af all occur while the bracket I34 remainsin the angular position 2 of Fig. 34. In the meantime a sleeve-applyingunit I00 has completed application of a sleeve to a container and hasprogressed in a counterclockwise direction to the position I with theparts thereof in the position shown in Fig. 22a and diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 22 wherein the fingers 308 have been turned through90 for convenience of illustration. When this particular unit I00reaches the angular position 2 the bracket I34 commences movement withthe unit I00. At this time the fingers 308 and suction pads 354 are inthe relative position illustrated in Fig. 23. These parts remain in thisrelationship as they move through positions 2 and 3, as shown in Figs.23 and 24. However, during this time the suction heads I44 and 200 moveapart for the purpose of expanding the sleeve 88. To this end theoperating parts of the mechanism 88 progress through the segments f--gand g-h. By the time the position h is reached the unit I00 has movedinto position 4 wherein the fingers 308 have been moved downwardly andexpanded, as shown in Fig. 25.

Suction is then cut off from the heads I44 and 200 whereupon the fingers308 are given control of the banding sleeve 88. The opening andtransferring mechanism 88 in the meantime has started into -the segmenth-a wherein the bracket I34 is swung in a clockwise direction to returnto its initial position. Such operation is indicated in the diagram inFig. 34 and it will be observed that the general path of travel of thesuction head I44 is therein indicated. When the sleeve-applying unit I00reaches position 5 the fingers 308 will have been fully expanded, asillustrated in Fig. 26. This relationship continues through position 8as shown in Fig. 2'7, but as the parts move from position 8 towardposition I the fingers 308 and sleeve 88 carried thereby move verticallyupwardly relative to the suction pads 354. By the time position I isreached the suction pads 354 are positioned opposite diametricallyopposed outer face portions of the walls 90 and 9| of sleeve 88, asshown in Fig. 28. As the parts move from position 1 toward position Ithe suction pads 354 move toward one another to bring the perforatedface plates thereof into engagement with opposite face portions of thesleeve 88. When such engagement has occurred the valve mechanism,including the slidingvalve plate 330, will be so actuated as to applysuction to the pads 354. This occurs when the parts are substantially inposition 8, as shown in Fig. 29.

The suction pads 354 are then moved vertically downwardly relative tothe fingers 308 whereby to carry the sleeve 88 downwardly onto the neckof a container 58 which in the meantime has been brought into verticalalignment with the unit I08. During this operation the parts movethrough position 8 illustrated in Fig. 30.

From position 9 to position III the suction pads 354 move on downwardlyto whatever extent may be appropriate for the particular container 58.

An example of an appropriate final position is illustrated in Fig. 31.When this position has been reached suction is cut off from the suctionpads 354 and as the parts move from position I0 to position I I thesuction pads 354 may be moved away from each other, leaving the sleeve88 in proper position upon the container 58. As the parts move fromposition II to position I2 the suction pads 354 move vertically upwardlyto clear the container 58. The parts then move from position I2 intoposition I whereupon the operation is repeated.

Inasmuch as there are two units I00 in the embodiment chosen forillustration herein it will be appreciated that these units will gothrough the operations just described apart. Furthermore, the openingand transferring mechanism 88 operates twice during each completerevolution of the turret 88 whereby to furnish a banding sleeve 88 toeach of the alternately presented units I00.

From a further inspection of Fig. 34 it may be observed that thecontainers 58 are brought in from the left hand side of the diagramalong the path 409 and in the direction indicated by the arrows. At theintersection of the path 409 with the circumferential path 4I0 of theapplying units I00 the containers enter an arcuate path M2 in horizontalcoincidence with a portion of the path 4I0. Thus a container 58 movesinto a position in vertical alignment with a unit I00 when such unit ismoving between position 8 and position 8. This condition persiststhrough position I2 and thereafter the container 58 enters a straightpath 4.

Fig. 34 has been supplied with appropriate legends and is so designed asto coordinate the 21 positions a-j of theopening and transferringmechanism 86 with the positions l-l2 of a sleeve-applying unit. Fig. 2shows developments of barrel cam grooves properly designed to operatethe units H in the manner described.

From the above detailed description of the mechanism and of theoperation of such mechanism it is apparent that the present inventionachieves the objects stated above. Such description is presented in anillustrative rather than a limiting sense, and it is the intention tocover such modifications and variations thereof as may fall within theproper scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for applying banding sleeves to containers, thecombination of means for moving a line of containers continuouslythrough a predetermined path; a continuously operable rotary turret;means within said turret for applying a banding sleeve to each containermoving through said predetermined path; a magazine for holding a bulksupply of banding sleeves in flattened form; and a cyclically operabletransfer device comprising means for individually removing bandingsleeves from said magazine, opening said sleeves and moving said sleevesinto position for transfer to the sleeve-applying means within saidturret and synchronously therewith.

2. In a machine for applying banding sleeves to containers, thecombination of means for moving a line of containers continuouslythrough a predetermined path; a constantly rotating turret; a pluralityof similar units within said turret, each of said units being adapted toapply a banding sleeve to a container moving through said predeterminedpath; a magazine for holding a bulk supply of handing sleeves inflattened form; a cyclically operable transfer device including meansfor individually removing banding sleeves from said magazine, openingsaid sleeves and moving said sleeves into position for transfersuccessively to the sleeve-applying units within said turret; and meansoperative during each complete revolution of said turret for operatingsaid transfer device through a number of complete cycles equal to thenumber of sleeveapplying units within said turret.

3. In a machine for applying banding sleeves to containers, thecombination of means for moving a line of containers continuouslythrough a predetermined path; a constantly rotating turret; a pluralityof similar units within said turret, each of said units being adapted toapply a banding sleeve to a container moving through said predeterminedpath; a magazine for holding a bulk supply of handing sleeves inflattened form; a cyclically operable transfer device including meansfor individually removing banding sleeves from said magazine, openingsaid sleeves and moving said sleeves into position for transfersuccessively to the sleeve-applying units within said turret; and meansoperative during each complete revolution of said turret for operatingsaid transfer device through a number of complete cycles equal to thenumber of sleeve-applying units within said turret, said last-namedmeans including a cam and means for rotating said cam at an angularvelocity having a ratio to the angular velocity of said turret directlyproportional to the number of sleeve-applying units within said turret.

4. In a machine for applying banding sleeves to containers, thecombination of means for moving a line of containers continuouslythrough a predetermined path; a rotary turret; means within said turretfor applying a banding sleeve to each container moving through saidpredetermined path; a magazine for holding a bulk supply of bandingsleeves in flattened form; cyclically operable means for individuallyremoving flattened banding sleeves from said bulk supply, opening saidflattened banding sleeves into approximately cylindrical form and movingsaid opehed sleeves synchronously with said turret within apredetermined path of travel; and means associated with said turret foreffecting transfer of said banding sleeves from said predetermined pathof travel to the sleeve-applying means with in said turret.

5. In a machine for applying banding sleeves to containers, thecombination of means for moving a line of containers continuouslythrough a predetermined path; a rotary turret; means within said turretfor applying a banding sleeve to each container moving through saidpredetermined path, said last named means including expansible andcontractible fingers; a magazine for holding a bulk supply of bandingsleeves in fiattened form; cyclically operable means for individuallyremoving flattened banding sleeves from said bulk supply, opening saidflattened banding sleeves into approximately cylindrical form and movingsaid opened sleeves synchronously with said turret within apredetermined path of travel; means associated with said turret forcontracting said fingers, inserting said contracted fingers into anopened banding sleeve moving within said predetermined path of traveland expanding said fingers to secure said opened banding sleeve theretofor travel with said turret into a position for application to acontainer and separate means carried by said turret and associated withsaid fingers for thereafter removing said opened banding sleeve fromsaid fingers and transferring said opened banding sleeve to a container.

6. In a machine for applying banding sleeves of the type described tocontainers, the combination of means for supporting a container,expansible means for holding a banding sleeve in opened condition,suction means engageable with opposed exterior surfaces of said openedbanding sleeve, means for disengaging said expansible means from saidopened banding sleeve while said sleeve is engaged by said suctionmeans, and means thereafter effective for causing relative movementbetween said suction means and said container to apply said bandingsleeve to said container.

7. In a machine for applying banding sleeves of the type described tocontainers, the combination of means for supporting a container,expansible and contractible fingers engageable with a banding sleeve,means for contracting said fingers, means for inserting said contractedflngers into a banding sleeve, means for expanding said fingers to holdsaid banding sleeve thereon in opened condition, suction meansengageable with opposed exterior surfaces of said opened banding sleevewhile said sleeve is engaged by said fingers, means for againcontracting said fingers for disengaging said fingers from said openedbanding sleeve, and means thereafter effective for causing relativemovement between said suction means and said container to apply saidbanding sleeve to said container.

8. In a machine for applying banding sleeves to containers, means forsupporting a container, means for holding a bulk supply of sleeves madeof flexible material and having the inner surfaces 23 of the opposingwalls thereof flattened into face to face contact and means forsuccessively withdrawing individual sleeves from said supply, means forcausing relative sliding movement between portions of the inner surfacesof said opposed sleeve walls and substantially within the plane of faceto face contact thereof whereby to force other portions of said innersurfaces to separate, means for thereafter completing the separation ofsaid inner surfaces to completely open a banding sleeve; expansiblemeans engageable with said opened banding sleeve for holding the same inopened condition, suction means engageable with opposed exteriorsurfaces of said opened banding sleeve, means for disengaging saidexpansible means from said openedbanding sleeve while said sleeve isengaged by said 24- suction means, and means thereafter elective formoving said suction means to apply said banding sleeve to saidcontainer.

HOWARD G. ALLEN. WILLIAM O. SIMS. EDWARD A. EBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,835,336 Risser Dec. 8, 19312,036,105 Strout Mar. 31, 1936 2,089,769 Strout Aug. 10, 1937 2,103,302Strout .1 Dec. 28, 1937

